Automatic hoist and binder



Npv. 10, 1953 F. w. COFFING AUTOMATIC HOIST AND BINDER Original Filed March 9, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. imam/ex Hf C'affi/vc.

W ilk, MM and Nov. 10, 1953 F, w. c FFmq 2,658,721

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AUTOMATIC HOIST AND BINDER Original Filed March 9, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmvron. (kink/M m (Mr/Na NOV. 10, 1953 w, 'F Nd' 2,658,721

AUTOMATIC HOIST AND BINDER Original Filed March 9, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC HOIST AND BINDER Fredrick W. Coffing, Danville, Ill., assignor to 'Coffing Hoist Company, Danville, III., a corporation 7 Claims. (Cl. 254-467) This invention relates to a full automatic hoist, wire stretcher or load binder device, and is a division of my application Serial No. 148,727, filed March 9, 1950, now abandoned.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, rugged, compact structure capable of the foregoing functions and step by step advance or retrograde movement of a flexible inextensible load support, such as a log chain, sprocket chain, tape or the like, and the free movement thereof through such device when desired.

One feature of the invention resides in associating with a load wheel carrying a flexible load support such as a chain or strap, a linked supported operating lever having an actuating handle and load pawl adapted to be tilted into and out of load pawl engagement, together with a holding pawl and associated latching cam therefor which may be actuated by swinging movement of the operating lever and supporting link to latch the holding pawl out of holding position for load lowering and free running when the operating handle is moved to one predetermined position, and unlatch the holding pawl to permit it to become effective when the handle is swung to another extreme actuated position.

Another feature of the invention resides in a structure of the above character wherein all three operations, namely, load lifting, load lowering and free running of the flexible. load support may all be effected through the movement and positioning of the handle on the operating lever with no other manual control setting. A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a floating latching cam for latching and releasing the holding pawl through operation and predetermined positioning of the actuating handle and its operating lever.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the invention associated with a flexible means of log chain type, the parts being shown in the handle lowered position in the lifting operation.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of such device.

ig. 3 is a perspective view with the handle in the highest position in the lifting operation.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation in the lowest handle position upon load lowering.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation in the so-called free chain position.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the holding pawl.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the load supporting wheel.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and of a sprocket type chain embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the holding pawl thereof.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the load supporting wheel thereof.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of a further embodiment of the basic invention, certain dotted lines indicating the collapsed position of the handle for shipment or storage purposes, the parts being shown in the position comparable to Fig. 1 and chain being shown as of link type.

Fig. 12 is a similar view of a portion of this embodiment with parts in a position corresponding to that shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 but with parts disposed in the load lowering position at the start of a load lowering stroke.

Fig. 14 is a bottom plan view of the jointed handle structure.

Fig. 15 is a View similar to Figs. 1, 8 and 11 of a tape embodiment of the invention.

This invention, as a division of my application Serial No. 148,727 is directed primarily to the structure shown'in Figures 1 to 9, inclusive.

In Figs. 1 to 7 there is illustrated a flexible load support comprising a log or coil chain embodiment of the invention whereas Figs. 8 to 10 illustrate the invention incorporated in a sprocket chain embodiment thereof. A cursory comparison of Fig. 1 with Fig. 8; Fig. 6 with Fig. 9, and Fig. 7 with Fig. 10, will visually demonstrate the differences which are confined to the formation of the active ends of the pawls and the periphery of the load supporting wheel. Figs. l to 5 illustrate the invention in several positions essential to an understanding of the basic invention.

In said figures reference numeral ll indicates a supporting or anchoring hook swivelably supporting at I2 2. clevis I3 disposed in eye I4 swivelled in loop l5 through which the support it extends and upon the ends of which are mounted the plates or straps it retained by nuts ll. Support It serves as a strap spacer and straps i6 comprise the housing.

Any other suitable or equivalent mechanism may be provided if desired. A load connecting hook I9 is swivelably mounted at 2B in stop mem ber 2| connected at 22 to one end of a coil chain having alternately disposed vertical and fiatwise positioned connected links 23 and 24, respectively. The :other end got the chain may terminate in finger ring and stop 25. All the aforesaid is conventional to the hoist art wherefore in all figures but Fig. 1 most of said parts are omitted.

The plates it, see Figs. 1 and 2, pivotallysupport at 26 an axle 21, and freely rotatable thereon and disposed between said platesis :theloadsupporting wheel 28, the details'of which are shown more clearly in Fig. 7. The axle is suitably retainecl as at 29.

Pivoted on said axle and exteriorly oftheplates are a pair of operating lever supporting links 30. The outer ends of said links pivotally support at 3! an operating lever 32 including a handle comprised of a plurality of bars, see Fig. 2. The inner end of the lever is extended .toward and lies adjacent the wheel and terminates in a load pawl portion 33,-said pawl extending on the other side of the pivotal support at "3| from the handle.

Upon the pin 34, bridging the plates l8 above the wheel, there is pivotally mounted "a holding pawl 35 shown more clearly in Figs. 2 andfi. The end of the 'load pawl portion 33 is substantially like the end of the holding pawl 35, wherefore an illustration thereof has been omitted. A spring 36, see Fig. 1, has one end anchored at 31 to the housing and itsopposite end is anchored at 38 to pawl 35 to constrain the latter toward the wheel 28. In Figs. 1 and 6 the .pawl 35 has a centrally notched end 39 to'provid'e claws d8 adapted to enter between links "24 and straddle the intermediate link-23. The free end of pawl 33is slotted'at l'l and formedaat .42 .in a like manner to thator pawl 35.

Hereinthe device is shown symmetrical. Since one side is like the other, a description of one side will suffice, for in certain instances that is all that is required for successful operation. Pawli35 mountsa latch pin43 (see'Figs. 1, 4 and 5). Pivotallylmounted "at "4'3 upon the housing l8 there .is :-a latching cam 55 extending between the pin 53 and the cam extension 46 carried by thelink 3d, pin 43 being .fixedto and extending laterally from the holding pawl P35 .Iin position to be engaged by the latching cam for latching the holding pawl'free Of'itS efiectiveiholding position. The link 3c is also formed with a latch releasing stop 41 opposed to its extension 4%, and adapted to be rocked by the 'operatinglever 32 against the latching :cam for releasing its latching engagement with the pin :43. As :above stated, this structure of the .latching-cam,:cam extension; and stop may .be carried only on one side of the housing as showninFig. iinstead or beingfsymmetrically :arranged .on :both sides nf the housing as shownin Fig. 2.

Operation When the parts are disposed as shown in Fig. 1 the handle 32 is in its lowermost position for load raising. Theload is now held by'holding pawl 35. The handle is'tilted counter-clockwise together with'links 30. This withdraws the load pawl 63 fromflthe chain'while itis held by pawl 35. When handle 32 is sufliciently elevatedtoward pawl 35, the pawl 33 is reengaged with the chain and the load is then taken by the handle. When the handle is moved clockwise, pawl 35 is ratcheted out of and over the chain as the same advances, the wheel 28 rotating therewith. When the handle movement is stopped pawl 35, under the influence of spring 36, seats in and again engages the chain for load holding. This describes a complete stroke of the handle for load elevation. The handle is oscillated as often as required or desired.

For load lowering, no manual actuation is re- ;quired. The handle stroke is merely modified which brings .into play the parts last described. When the handle of the operating lever 32 is brought down :to a predetermined lowered position, as :shown :in Fig. 4, the cam extension "it engages the latch which in turn engages the latch pin 43 to swing-the load pawl 35 free of load holding position .and latches it out of its load holding gposition .asshown in Figs. 4 and 5 upon a further slight clockwise movement of the handle su flici'ently to release the holding pawl from the pressure exerted thereon by the load. The load is then carried for lowering through counterclockwise movement of the operating lever 33:2, the load pawl taking'theload on the wheel.

As the load is lowered by the operating lever being moved counterclockwise, the :latch releasing stop '4? is brought into engagement :with'the latch 45 upon said lever reaching its uppermost extreme position and having lowered the load a predeterminedsdistance. Upon the latch being thus engaged by the stop 4?, it isforcedaboutits pivotal mounting M in a counterclockwise direction free of the latch :pin 4.3, thereby permitting the holding pawl :35 to again move into its load wheel holding position under tension of .the spring 36, as shown in Fig. 3. The holding pawl will then hold the load while the operating 'lever this tilted about its pivotal :supportat 3! to free theloadpawl and permit the operating lever to beifreely returned :clockwise to itslowered position and tilt it :into load :pawl engaging position at the end of its lowering stroke. Thereupon, the load pawl takes over theload and simultaneously therewith the :cam extension 45 has again forced the latch 45 into its latching engagement with the latch pin :43gwhich completes theload lowering cycle.

For free chain action with no load, the latch 45 may be forced into .its latching position as above described, but instead of swinging the 1 operating lever counterclockwise with the load pawl in load wheel engagement, said operating lever is merely tilted about its pivotal support 3 I, with the load-pawl 33 swung outwardly from the load wheel-andchain. In this position as shown in Fig. :5 neither the .load pawl 33 nor thelatched out holding pawl 35 is efiective, and the load wheel may thereupon befreelyrotated forfree chain operation.

The wheel 28.as.shown in Fig. [includes the circular peripheral side portions 48 ,and the central grooved portion 4.9. The links .24 bear upon the surface portions 48, and the links 23 are disposed in the groove 49.

Reference will now be had to Figs. 8 to 10, inclusive, wherein the sprocket chain embodiment is illustrated. Operation hereof is identical to that previously described wherefore a description hereof is omitted.

In these'figures numerals of the one hundred series designate parts identical, similar or equivalinks I23.

lent to those designated by the primary series of numerals in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive. The following modifications may be noted: Herein wheel I28, see Fig. 10, includes two outer peripheral portions I48 that provide clearance for the chain side The intermediate larger diametered portion MS of the wheel provides a bearing surface for the chain sleeve rollers I24. As before, the pawls 35 and I33 have identical ends.

I Herein the holding pawl [35, see Fig. 9, includes a central portion I46 and load pawl l33 includes a similar portion [42. These are curved at MW and I 42 to conform to the roller peripheries. The sides of said pawls are notched out at their free ends, or the pivoted end may include bosses I39 and ii respectively. Thus the pawls are active upon the chain rollers only and the latter bear only upon the wheel I28.

Reference will now he had to Figs. 11 to 14, inclusive, wherein numerals of the two hundred series indicate parts similar, identical or equivalent to the parts shown in Fig. l and designated by the corresponding primary numerals.

In said figures, as in Fig. 8, there is illustrated the link or sprocket type chain and a wheel 228 which may be identical to the wheel L28, which wheel is mounted at 221 between the housing straps 218.

The present embodiment contains two modifications. By referring to Figs. 3 and 5 it will be noted that cam extension 46, in certain positions of link 30, projects laterally beyond the housing. Such is not the case in Figs. 11 to 14.

Again in the two preceding forms, while the handle 32 or I32 may be partially laid back, see Fig. 5, it cannot be fully collapsed against the housing as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 11.

Herein the two side links 23!] are apertured at 230 and a latch spring tie, having mid-portion 2G0 and arms 26! with outwardly directed ends 262, is mounted thereon with said ends seated in the apertures. The normal bias in said arms retains this tie seated in and upon links 230. The handle 232 includes a catch portion 232 that is engaged by the mid-portion of the latch spring tie and normally holds the spring and handle against complete separation in normal operation V but permits separation for complete collapse.

Said catch portion also serves as a stop to limit undue lowering movement of the handle because links 23s have portions 230* that engage strap carried pins 263.

Instead of having the holding pawl pin exposed. to one side of the housing, this pin 243 now projects through openings 26:3 in the housing plates 2H3. Wider plates may accordingly be utilized.

As before, the hoist includes the holding pawl 235 with an active end such as shown in Fig. 9, said pawl being pivoted upon the straps 2l8 at 234. Spring 2% is anchored at 237 to one strap 2H! and at 23% to said pawl 235. It may be observed that the spring is disposed in the housing above the wheel and the flexible load support therein, and constrains the holding pawl to load holding engagement with and upon said flexible support.

The final major departure in this embodiment is found in the lost motion link modification. Herein the latch 245 mounts headed pin 245*. Link 238 mounts headed pin 230*. The lost motion link 2 56 includes longitudinally aligned slots 2 36 and 2463 which have seated therein the shanks of pins 245 and 230 respec tively. The separating portion 246 between said slot provides a stop which limits and insures proper disposition of the drag link 24% at all times. Except for handle collapse for shipment or storage purposes this embodiment functions identically to those previously described. The specific character of the flexible load support, the load wheel corresponding peripheral conformation, and the complementary formation of the two pawls may be of the log chain type if desired.

As will be observed in Figs. 11-13 the link 2 35 provides a lost motion action between the actuating link 238 and the latch 245. The elongated slots 245 and 246 permit lost motion such that the operating lever and handle 232 may be swung freely from its uppermost position, as in Fig. 11, to its lowermost position, as in Figs. 12 and 13, without effecting the latch 245. When it is desired to lower the load or have a free running chain, the operating lever 232 is moved to its extreme lowered position so that the latch 245 will be brought into latching engagement with the latch pin 243 to render the holding pawl ineffective.

The latch will remain in its latching posi tion while the load is being lowered through raising the operating lever from the position shown in Fig. 13 to that shown in Fig. 11. Thereupon, the lost motion is terminated through the lost motion link 246 such that the latch is forced out of latching engagement with the latching pin 243, whereupon the holding pawl is spring biased back to its effective load holding position. The operating lever may then be tilted on its pivotal support 23! with the load pawl free of effective engagement with the load wheel while the holding pawl holds the load, :as above described with respect to Figs. 1 to inclusive. If it is desired to provide for free wheeling of the chain, with the holding pawl latched out of efiective position, as shown in Fig. 13, the operating handle 232 may be swung about its pivotal support freeing the load pawl, whereupon there will be no pawl engagement with the load wheel or its chain.

It will be recalled that mention has been made to the effect that the inextensible flexible load support could be of tape-like type. Since such a means has no inherent abutment portions therein for pawl engagement, another embodiment, see Fig. 15, is illustrated by way of example only.

In the modification of Fig. 15, numerals of the three hundred series are similarly utilized. The essential difference, as stated, is that the flexible load support is of tape type. It passes over a wheel 328 having side flange portions 343 and a central portion 345 which is longitudinally corrugated, thereby forming the ridges 349 and the grooves 34%. The ends of pawls 333 and 335 are serrated as at 5542 and Mil respectively.

In operation, this embodiment is essentially the same as those previously described. except that the wheel ridges 1569 conform the tape to provide the spaced abutments and the de pressed portions therebetween for engagement by one or both pawls as desired or required, or by neither pawl when free tape movement is desired with no load on the tape. The tape may be of textile fabric such as nylon having the desired thickness and width.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a structure for operating a flexible normally inextensible load support and having a housin -includin an axle and aload wheerroita ably suppor d up n vsaid axl for carry n said support, in combination therewith, a load holding pawl pivoted upon said housing normany biased into load holding position for holding said-wheel and loadsupport, a supporting ,link pivotally mounted on said housing concentrically of said axle, an operatinglever fullcrumed on one end of said supporting link having a load pawl at one end and a handle extension ,at the other end thereof, said load ,pawl .being movable into and out of load operating position upon rocking said lever about its iulorum, a latch pivotally in ounted on said housng, a la ch enga in mem er on said holdin pawl, a cam extension on the opposite side of said link from said lever movable into engage.- ment with said latch for forcing it into pawl latching position against said latch engaging member for retaining said holding pawl in inoperative position, and a latch releasing'proiection on said link in opposed and spaced relation-to said cam extension thereon to provide for lost motion actuation, said releasing projection being engageable with said latch for freeing it from said latch engaging member and permitting said ,holdingpawl to become effective, said lever andload pawl being effective to manipulate the load through the lost motion movement intermediate the said latch engaging positions of said ream extension and releasing pro.- jection.

2. In a structure for-operating a flexible normally inextensible load support and ,having a housing including anaxle and a load wheel r0.-

tatably supported upon said axle for carrying said support, in combination therewith, :a load holding pawl pivoted upon saidhousing normally biased into load holding position for holding said wheel and load support, an operating lever including a handle portion and a load pawl on one end-thereof rnovable into and out of load operating position, a latch pivotally mounted on Said housing movable into engagement with said holding pawl for moving it ,free of holding position, and a rocking link supported intermediate its ends uponsaid axle having an extension for pivotally mounting said operating level", said link havinga pair of spaced jaws embracing saidlatch normally in-spaced relation thereto for permitting load movement of said load pawl, one of said jaws being positioned to engage said ;latoh ior swinging it into holding pawl latching position and the opposed jaw being movable into engagement with the latch to move the latch from said latching position.

3. Ina structure for operating a flexible normally inextensible load support'and having a housing including an axle and a load wheel rotatablysupported upon said axle for carrying said support, in combination therewith, a load holding pawl pivoted upon said housing normally biased into'load holding position for holding said wheel and load support, alatch mounted on said housing to move into and out of pawl engaging position for latching said pawl out of holding position, a supporting link fulcrumed on said axle having a pair of spaced jaws movable into and out of actuating engagement with said latch, one a of said jaws comprising a camming extension adapted to move said latch into pawl engaging position, the other said jaw comprising a projection engageable with said latch for moving it out of :pawl engagin position, said supporting link carrying :an extension, anda load pawl pivotally ;ment with said load wheel and support manipulating said gload through limited oscillation and swinging, said link about said axle to and from pawl engaging position upon extreme oscillation.

4. In a structure for operating a flexible nor- ;mal1 y:inextensib1e load support and having a housing including an axle and a load wheel rotatably supported upon said axle for carrying said support, in combination therewith, 'aload holding pawlmounted on said housing for movement to land from load holding position, a latch "carried by said housing movable in one direction for la chin sa d holding pawl out of holding po tion and in the other direction for release thereof, a latch actuating -member fulcrumed intermediate its ends on said housing in concentric relation with said axle, said member having an extension on one side of its fulcrum engageable with said latch to move the latch to pawl latching position and an extension on the opposite side of its fulcrum enge geable-therewith to move the latch out of latching position, a supporting link portion on said member extending from said last-mentioned extension, and a load pawl pivotally mounted on said link extension for movement into and out of load operating position, said extensions being normally spaced relative to es ch other and said latch to permit limited movementof said load pawl for load operation.

5. In a structure for operating a flexible normally inextensible load support and having a housing including an axle and a load wheel rotatahly supported upon said axle for carrying said support, in combination therewith, a load holding pawl movable on said housing into and out of mad holding position, a latch on said housing movable into and out of latching engagement with said pawl -for latching it-out of load holding position, a pair of opposed and spaced latch actuating members pivoted on said housing structure concentrically with said axle for jointly swinging in one direction to move said latch into pawl latching position and in the other direction for moving said latch out of pawl latching position, said members being spaced from each other to permit ineffective free play thereof, and a load actuating pawl pivotelly mounted on one-oi said members for swinging said members to one of said latch actuating positions, said load pawl being movable in its load operating position through the free play movementof said members.

6. In a structure-for operating a flexible normally inextensible load support and having a housing including an axle and a load wheel r0.- tatably supported upon said axle for carrying said support, in combination therewith, a swing.- ing supporting link pivotally mounted on said housing concentrically of said axle and having a radial extension,-a load pawl and lever fulcrumed on said extension for movement into and out of load operating position, a load holding pawl movably-mounted on said housing for positioning into and out of load holding position, a latch mounted on said housing movable into latching engagement with said holding pawl for restraining it from load holding position, and a pair of spaced actuating members on said supporting link arranged on opposite sides of its pivotal mounting for engagement with opposite sides of said latch, one of said members being adapted to move said latch into holding pawl latching position when swung by said load pawl and handle intone direction, and the other member being adapted to move said latch out of said latching po sition when swung by said load pawl and handle in said opposite direction, said load pawl and handle being movable in load operating position through a predetermined angular displacement as determined by the spacing between said members.

7. A structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein the load wheel includes at least three coaxial peripheral surfaces, two of which are substantially of equal diameter and separated by the third surface, the intermediate surface having a lesser diameter, said load support comprising a log chain providing inherent abutments, each of said pawls having a notched engaging end for inter- 10 locking engagement with the links of said chain and vertical link clearance, the said chain having a bearing upon the larger diameter wheel surfaces.

FREDRICK W. COFIFING.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 1,100,956 Davies et a1 June 23, 1914 1,157,299 Davies et al Oct. 19, 1915 

